Elusive Couch: Living Room Refresh

Now that I've decided I'm not moving, it's time to re-evaluate my living space. It has been two years since I spent any time doing big decorating projects, and since I found the awesome couch that is one of the focal points of my living room. It has been two years of living in a space that isn't quite finished but, has become awkwardly lived in. Those boxes have got to go!

So, as I mentioned in a post from last week, I've begun searching for all the right things to fill my apartment with. And, I have the following issues to solve: 

1) My desk is actually just a dining table and I still have a bunch of boxes in the corner of my living room

2) I don't have enough storage in my apartment

3) There is an awkward and unsightly exposed closet space next to an enclosed closet in my bedroom

4) My clothes are stowed in the storage drawers under my bed and in an open shelving unit in my bedroom

5) I have a LOT of books and despite my best efforts, continue to collect more

The first project I'm undertaking is replacing my "desk" with a desk and ridding my living room of storage boxes. Please bear witness to the before shot below...

 

Now, check out the almost after shots below. I got that awesome desk from CB2. And, the boxes have been replaced with plastic bins that I can see through and have been relocated to my garage space down the street. I still need to figure out the situation with the files (currently on the right side of the fireplace), the printer (on the floor to the right of the desk), the contents of the big green box (stationary and wrapping paper, mostly), and the binders. Billy bookshelves and a cute filing cabinet will hopefully do the trick.

It's getting there!

Reasons I Love SF: The Beach is Walkable

My friend needed a getaway so, has come to stay for a couple of nights. It is great to have a companion with me during the week and tonight we were moved to enjoy all that my neighborhood has to offer: Golden Gate Park, Ocean Beach, and delicious Pho.

On our walk through Golden Gate Park, the flowers were in bloom, the greenery was lush, and the sun was getting low in the sky and casting that lovely aura over everything we saw. By the time we reached the beach, the sun was setting, the almost full moon was at the sun's opposite, and sand was flying into all of our exposed orifices. Tired and hungry, we wandered back toward my apartment and found a rather popular Pho restaurant where we slurped up noodles and meat and warmed ourselves inside and out.

Reasons I Love SF: Vacations in the East Bay

This weekend, I went on a vacation in the East Bay, which I do from time-to-time. I spent time with one of my best friends, enjoyed the warm East Bay weather, and got some health and well-being out of the deal, as well.

Saturday afternoon, we stepped out and shopped on 4th Street, in Berkeley. I got to wear one of my dresses, which is rare. And, I began purchasing items for my apartment redecoration project (blogs on this to come soon, under the label the Elusive Couch). As a first step, I bought this desk at CB2.

We ate at Tacubaya where they make amazing guacamole.

After a good night's sleep, we dined on green juice, picked up burrito bowls from Chipotle, and then did a five-hour rigorous hike in Redwood Regional Park. We came upon swarms of ladybugs in the valley, a beautiful sight to behold. And, we petted a llama, there for the day and spending time in the shade. I'm not sure exactly how many times we ascended and descended but, we had to climb up a final hill which just about did us in. There may have been crying as we trod uphill... 

Reasons I Love SF: More Peninsula Hikes

Windy Hill is a quick drive from where I work but, I didn't even know it existed until earlier this week. A friend and I spent the day exploring its varied terrain, climbing up switch-backs in dense forest growth, enjoying lunch looking over Stanford's campus surrounded by grassland, and tromping down arid hills in the hot sun.

We spoke of our recent trips to Havana and Mexico City and Miami. It was HOT! And, I neglected to satiate myself enough prior to starting up the shaded switch backs. At one point, I thought I may pass out but all I brought along were nuts to snack on... So, once we stopped at the top of the hill, I ate my meager bags of mixed nuts and chocolate covered mangoes, she ate her hefty sandwich, and then we sweated it out, practically running down the steep grade.

Once we reached my car, sitting unshaded in the parking lot, I decided it was time to grab a bigger bite and a beer and we hit up the Alpine Inn, a funny dive-bar beer garden in Portola Valley. Since it was a Saturday evening and over 85 degrees, I envisioned Zeitgeist-like crowds but, instead we were greeted with a band wrapping up its set, a few scattered families, and several gentlemen working on their laptops... We gobbled down fries and Belgian beer, and I chowed on a burger and then called it a day.

Not Moving...

So, it's official. I've been thinking about it for a couple of months but, I'm ready to pronounce it now, I'm not moving to Los Angeles. San Francisco will continue to be my home for the indefinite future. Therefore, this blog will continue to be about my reasons for why I love it here. As usual, there will also be postings on trips to Los Angeles and other places around the globe, as I explore them.

Look out for pictures from West Africa later this year!